Syngas production via steam reforming of bioethanol over Ni–BEA catalysts: A BTL strategy

In this work we focused on syngas production from bioethanol, achieving proper H2/CO = 2 ratio to feed the FT reaction. The catalysts were constituted by Ni supported over BEA zeolites. The Si/Al ratio was varied to assess the effect of acidity on catalyst activity, selectivity and stability. As well, the effect of Ni loading (0.6–4 wt%) was investigated. Ni confinement into the zeolite pores proved a successful strategy to contrast deactivation by coking and to ensure stable operation with time-on-stream. Intermediate Ni loading (1.5–4 wt%) allowed to limit byproducts formation and to achieve the desired H2/CO ratio (ca. 2 mol/mol) for the present application. By contrast, increasing Ni loading increased the activity for both the reforming and the water gas shift reactions, thus improving H2 productivity but unbalancing the reaction mixture for application in the FT process. The conversion of CO through the WGS reaction showed strongly correlated to Ni loading, as well as the reforming of methane, a byproduct of bioethanol decomposition. The equilibrium conversion was achieved at the highest Ni loading. © 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC